Las Cruces woman charged with murder, DWI after running over her boyfriend (update)

Couple's spat ends in man's death

LAS CRUCES — After a night of drinking then arguing, a Las Cruces woman ran over her boyfriend early Wednesday morning on North Main Street, police say, inflicting fatal injuries as he attempted to walk away from her pickup truck.

Las Cruces police have charged Annette L. Fuschini, 38, with an open count of murder in the death of Carlos Nevarez Jr., and aggravated driving while intoxicated. Nevarez, a volunteer firefighter and former Marine, was pronounced dead at MountainView Regional Medical Center. Wednesday was his 42nd birthday.

Fuschini, of the 1800 block of Embassy Drive, has been booked with no bond into the Doña Ana County Detention Center. She has no felony convictions, according to the New Mexico courts website.

Detectives learned, according to a LCPD news release, that the couple spent Tuesday evening drinking at the home of a friend. Around midnight they were arguing and left.

Women working late shifts at a Sonic Drive-In and CVS pharmacy on North Main Street told investigators, according to a search warrant affidavit, they heard the tires of Fuschini's white 2008 Chevrolet Silverado screech as the pickup stopped in the middle of the road.

Both women said they saw Nevarez get out of the truck.

"Go, just go home," one woman heard Fuschini say, according to the affidavit filed in Magistrate Court.

Nevarez headed for the Sonic, the women said. He walked across a nearby sidewalk, then into some gravel, one woman told police.

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That's when Fuschini revved the engine of her Silverado, then "deliberately" jumped the curb to strike Nevarez with the 3-ton truck, the other woman told police, according to the affidavit.

Both woman told police they called 911 and hurried to help.

By that time, they said, Fuschini stopped, got out and walked toward Nevarez. She was on her cell phone and then said, according to the affidavit, "I know CPR."

Nevarez lived in the Silver City area for a few years and was part of the Gaffney-Oglesby Marine Corps League.

He joined the Fairacres volunteer fire department in January, then graduated from the academy in March, Doña Ana County Fire Marshal Robert Monsivaiz said.

Monsivaiz happened to see Nevarez on Tuesday morning and remembered him as "very energetic" and "very respectful."

Said Monsivaiz: "He was very motivated to serve as a volunteer firefighter. He was always very upbeat."

Deputy Fire Marshal Eric Crespin said Nevarez was "always willing to help his fellow firefighters improve their fire skills during training and drills."

James Staley may be reached at 575-541-5476. Follow him on Twitter @auguststaley

12:08 p.m.

LAS CRUCES — A Las Cruces woman is facing a murder charge after police say she ran over her boyfriend during a dispute early Wednesday morning.

Annette Larson Fuschini, 38, has been charged with an open count of murder and aggravated driving while intoxicated, according to a Las Cruces Police news release.

Fuschini's boyfriend, Carlos Nevarez Jr., was transported to Mountain View Regional Medical Center where he was subsequently pronounced dead. Nevarez, born June 12, 1971, had just turned 42 today.

Shortly after midnight Las Cruces Police were dispatched to 2935 N. Main St. where officers found Nevarez on the side of the roadway unresponsive and with multiple injuries. A noticeably intoxicated Fuschini was attempting to revive Nevarez but was relieved by the first-responding officer.

Detectives learned that Fuschini and Nevarez were at a friend's home Tuesday evening and consuming alcohol. At some point during the evening Fuschini and Nevarez began arguing and, at around midnight, they left together with Fuschini driving her white 2008 Chevrolet pickup westbound on Main Street.

LCPD detectives determined that the couple continued arguing and on the 2900 block of north Main Street Nevarez exited the pickup and began walking away. Witnesses told detectives that Fuschini then ran over Nevarez and continued driving a short distance before walking back to check her boyfriend.

Fuschini was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center without bond.